How do you choose the best sonography programs in Florida? There are several options out there, so how do you decide which one is right for you?
Sonography is a medical procedure where ultrasound images are taken of internal organs or tissues. Sonographers use high-frequency sound waves to create images of soft tissue structures within the body.
There are two types of sonography exams: diagnostic and screening. Diagnostic scans are performed to diagnose specific health conditions or diseases. Screening exams are conducted to detect potential problems before they become serious.
Sonography is a diagnostic imaging technique used to visualize internal organs and other structures inside the human body. The ultrasound machine uses sound waves to produce images of internal organs and tissues.
Sonography is a noninvasive test that allows doctors to view internal organs without having to perform surgery. It is also useful in detecting tumors, cysts, and other abnormalities.
Florida Sonography Education
In Florida, there are numerous opportunities to enroll in a program that is Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) recognized. As of 2017, there were 17 approved ultrasound programs spread throughout several educational institutions in the state.
Desirable areas for students to study include Daytona Beach, Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and many more. One institution offers a Master’s degree program, while two colleges provide approved certificate programs.
The majority of programs offered, nevertheless, result in an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree, and many also permit specialization. A rewarding career may result from successfully completing an ultrasound technician training program in sonography and obtaining certification through ARDMS.
The List of Accredited Sonography Programs in Florida
Sonography is a noninvasive test that allows doctors to view internal organs without having to perform surgery. It is also useful in detecting tumors, cysts, and other abnormalities. The following schools are schools where you can get your journey started.
1. Valencia College – Orlando
Process of Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
Type of program offered: Associate degree
One of the biggest community schools in the country, Valencia College enrolls over 70,000 students each year.
The college offers a student-centered associate degree program in DMS that is supported by cutting-edge technology and creative learning approaches in order to stay up with the growing use of ultrasonic techniques in the healthcare industry.
This two-year program, which is available at the West Campus, combines classroom instruction with practical experience in clinical settings.
You will be well-equipped to work as an ultrasound technician or diagnostic sonographer in a range of medical facilities, including hospitals’ emergency rooms, physician’s offices, and outpatient care centers.
The curriculum is demanding, and the recommended weekly study time for students is 15 to 25 hours. After completing the course, you can take the OB/GYN and abdominal registry exams.
Over the past five years, there has been a 100% pass rate for program graduates on the licensing exam, demonstrating their exceptional performance.
2. Adventist University of Health Sciences – Orlando
Process of Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
Type of Program offered: Associate degree & Baccalaureate (Online)
The Advent University of Health Sciences has pioneered the provision of affordable education to Florida’s future healthcare professionals. It is one of the few ultrasound technician programs in the US to provide online instruction in sonography.
Students like the ease and flexibility that come with studying online without sacrificing the standard of instruction. The curriculum is dynamically created in collaboration with AdventHealth while taking into account the shifting requirements of the healthcare sector.
There are presently two degrees available in diagnostic medical sonography from Adventist University.
- Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography: Students may choose to finish either of the two tracks—General Vascular Sonography or Cardiovascular Sonography—in this two-year program that begins once a year in the summer trimester.
- The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Bachelor of Science program is primarily for sonographers who are already employed in the industry and have an associate’s degree or certificate in the health sciences. Both the standard version and the fast-track format for the software are available.
3. Santa Fe College- Gainesville
Process of Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
Type of Program: Associate
Santa Fe is a public university in Gainesville, Florida, that was founded in 1965. Since 2012, it has routinely been recognized among the top ten community colleges in the country. The college received the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence in 2015.
The diagnostic medical sonography program at Santa Fe College consists of a five-semester curriculum that combines theoretical classroom instruction, practical lab training, and a clinical externship at imaging centers and nearby acute care facilities.
In-depth studies of anatomy, imaging, abdominal, OB/GYN, neurosonology, vascular, and medical physics are part of the core professional curriculum.
You will be ready to take the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers exam, which is given by the ARRT, once you have finished this program.
4. Eastern Florida State College- Melbourne
Process of Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
Type of Program: Associate
Founded in 1960 with the mission statement “Explore. Achieve. The Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) provides a program leading to an associate degree for aspirant ultrasound technicians.
At EFSC, students’ lives are not just centered on their studies; they also participate in athletics, student clubs, and community service learning.
In Florida, there is a two-year, full-time ultrasound technician program that offers the ideal combination of classroom instruction and hands-on experience.
The program’s 77 credits are broken down into 15 for general education courses, 39 for core classes including cross-sectional anatomy, using sonographic visualization systems, and clinical experiences, and 23 for support classes like physiology, physics, and principles of medicine.
The ARDMS certifications and employment in a range of healthcare settings are both available to graduates.
*This program only accepts a certain number of students each year.
5. Hillsborough Community College-Tampa
Process of Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
Type of Program: Associate
One of Florida’s top community colleges, Hillsborough Community College (HCC), was founded in 1968. Currently, a two-year DMS program is available.
You must finish the prerequisite curriculum (18 credits) before enrolling to this program. The first year’s curriculum is broken up into three terms, each with nine, ten, and five credits. These terms cover anatomy, scanning protocols, fundamentals of sonography, and a substantial practicum.
The second year’s curriculum, which includes advanced sonography courses and a practical clinical practicum, is also broken up into three terms of 11, 13, and six credits each. Graduates will be qualified to take the national registration exams and earn their certification as sonographers.
6. Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology-Altamonte Springs, Delray Beach & Miami
Process of Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
Type of Program: Associate degree
With e-classrooms, sophisticated labs, a state-of-the-art library, and a focus on providing high-quality healthcare education, Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology prioritizes offering the greatest student-centered learning options.
The 28-month A.S. program is an option if you want to work as an ultrasound technician in Florida. Three Cambridge campuses—in Orlando (Altamonte Spring Campus), West Palm Beach (Delray Beach Campus), and Miami Gardens—offer a degree program in DMS (Miami Campus).
The curriculum combines in-depth classroom learning with closely supervised clinical rotations to prepare you to use the most up-to-date ultrasound technology, carry out diagnostic procedures, decipher sonographic images/scans, and generate reports for physicians.
7. Miami Dade College- Miami
Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
Program Type: Associate
Sonography instruction is provided by Miami Dade College at its multidisciplinary Medical Campus in Miami. Three functioning clinics on this well-equipped facility offer patient treatment and act as learning environments for ultrasound tech students.
This full-time, two-year program in diagnostic medical sonography begins in the fall of each year. It will be necessary for you to spend 35–40 hours per week in class. The coursework consists of 62 credits of core topics linked to sonography and 15 credits of general education.
Additionally, 1,920 hours of supervised training in clinical settings connected to the institution will be completed by you. During this time, you will receive invaluable practical expertise in acquiring diagnostic images, scanning, and measuring sonograms.
8. Nova Southeastern University – Ft. Lauderdale & Tampa
Process of Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
Type of Program: B.S. In Medical Sonography & B.S. In Cardiovascular Sonography
According to U.S. News and World Report, Nova Southeastern University, which was founded in 1964, is among the best universities in the country. World Report News. The 480-acre suburban campus of Nova University offers two different sonography concentrations for its bachelor’s degree. It is outfitted with cutting-edge technology and interactive classrooms.
B.S.C.S. : This B.S. The intensive and in-depth didactic education in the cardiovascular sonography program lasts for 15 months, and the clinical practicum lasts for 12 months. The Tampa Bay regional campus, located in West-Central Florida, begins classes in May.
B.S.M.S. : This medical sonography curriculum lasts 27 months and consists of classroom instruction, laboratory work, and clinical practice.
There are some online course options. There are 96 credits total in the program, some of which can be applied toward the Master of Health Science degree.
9. Broward college
Process of Accreditation:
Type of Program: Associate degree and baccalaureate degree
Anyone interested in a profession as an ultrasound clinician can attend Broward College at a reasonable cost. Check out the structure of the school’s program and the potential benefits for your future.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has granted Broward College accreditation to grant associate and baccalaureate degrees.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program trains individuals who meet specific requirements to collaborate with medical professionals in the treatment, control, and care of patients who have been referred for ultrasound examinations.
10. Concorde Career Institute
An Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography from Tampa’s Concorde Career Institute can help you get ready for intriguing job prospects in this crucial industry.
You can acquire the fundamental medical knowledge and practical sonography skills needed to start on the road to a job that matters in as little as 20 months.
Sonography, another name for ultrasound imaging, was first used in medicine in the 1940s. Today, sonographers are crucial in determining the health of expectant mothers, finding cancers, and capturing photos of other soft tissues, such as the major organs and arteries.
11. Keiser university
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Associate of Science degree program at Keiser University combines classroom instruction with laboratory and clinical experiences.
Students who complete the program are prepared to work as beginning diagnostic medical sonographers.
Under the supervision of a licensed doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine, sonographers are highly skilled professionals qualified to provide patient services using diagnostic techniques. They also help doctors gather the information they need to make diagnoses.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Associate of Science degree from Keiser University equips graduates with the skills necessary for entry-level jobs in the ultrasound industry.
The curriculum aids in the growth of a graduate sonographer’s acquired knowledge and skills. The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program strives to instill in its alumni the virtues and ideas of lifelong learning.
12. Polk state college
Sonographers are the highly skilled individuals in charge of running the machinery that gathers these images for medical interpretation and diagnosis.
High-frequency sound waves are directed into specified areas of a patient’s body using specialized equipment in the imaging technique known as sonography (also known as ultrasound).
The Polk State University Airside Center in Lakeland is home to the diagnostic medical sonography program. There are regular classes and clinical tasks from Monday through Friday.
The Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS) recommended that Polk State College’s diagnostic medical sonography program be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
Other Sonography Programs In Florida
| Pensacola state college | Visit school website |
| Florida Golf Coast University | Visit the school’s website |
| American College for Medical Career | Visit school website |
| Palm beach state college | Visit school website |
| Southern Technical College | Visit school website |
Ultrasound Technician Certification Requirements
At the moment, Florida does not need the license or certification of its ultrasound technologists. However, the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography’s professional accreditation is preferred or even required by the majority of employers (ARDMS).
Get Your Certification to Be a Sonographer in Florida
Your eligibility to take the ARDMS exam is granted immediately upon graduation from a Florida institution that has received Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accreditation.
The majority of colleges will schedule the exam for one of your program’s final quarters or semesters. There are various ways to fulfill the requirements needed to take the exam if that circumstance does not apply to you. Below are some frequently asked questions on the best sonography program In Florida.
What is the Average Salary of an Ultrasound Tech in the State of Florida?
When picking a career, pay is a crucial factor. Florida ultrasound technicians make an average wage of $32.70 per hour or $68,010 per year.
This is a great wage for a position that only needs a two-year degree, but it’s crucial to remember that the more education you have, the more money you’ll make in this field.
Which Florida Healthcare Facilities Currently Employ Ultrasound Technicians?
Although there are many different places where ultrasound technologists can be found in Florida, more than three-quarters of them work in hospitals and doctor’s offices.
The remainder is employed by outpatient care facilities and medical and diagnostic laboratories across the state.
Using ultrasonography to evaluate prenatal development, identify masses, and look for the indications of numerous different diseases are just a few examples of the tasks carried out in these situations.
Is Florida a Good Place to Work for Sonography?
Yes! There are several reasons why working as an ultrasound technician is a fantastic career choice, including:
Education: Entry-level roles are normally open to those with only an Associate Degree, which takes around two years to complete. There are 17 approved ultrasonography schools in Florida that provide certificates and degrees.
Income: Florida has one of the highest sonographer salaries of any state. Florida sonographers make an average yearly pay of $71,290.
Employment: According to recent research there will be a 27% rise in the number of sonographer jobs available in Florida by 2028.
In Florida, Are Sonographers in Demand?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2030, there will be more than 153,000 of them. The greater Miami area is one of the places with the highest employment level for diagnostic medical sonographers, and many of these jobs will be in Florida.
Is Ultrasound Tech Training More Difficult Than Nursing?
Nevertheless, you must enroll in a two-year Associate program if you want to become a registered nurse. A sonography program might be a little more difficult than a CNA degree because of these criteria. Everything is dependent on the route you take.